INEC: Intra party disquiet causes electoral failures

DISQUIET and lack of harmony within political parties is responsible for lack of free, fair and credible elections in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ekiti State, has said.

Speaking at a stakeholders forum, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the stateAlhaji Halilu Pai enjoined stakeholders including members of the various political parties, security agencies, the commissioner of police and the commission’s electoral officers in all the local governments of the state, to respect and adhere to the laws guiding the conduct of elections.

He pledged INEC would always remain non-partisan and untilting towards any of the political parties.

In apparent regard for the ongoing disagreement between members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over who controls the state party executive, REC stated that if all the parties observed and respect "internal democracy in the selection of their candidates for election, the polity would be enhanced and democracy strenghtened in the country."

Pai disclosed the meeting was aimed at reminding stakeholders of "individual and collective responsibilities to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the state."

Alhaji Pai recalled that prior to his coming to Ekiti, the state was considered as a trouble spot, as far as elections were concerned. He said the situation had taken a new turn consequent upon the display of maturity by all stakeholders.

Reminding the parties of the duty of INEC to monitor activities of political parties in line with the Section 85 of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended, he blamed political parties for failure to comply with the section which stipulates, "that parties should give at least 21 days notice to the electoral body before conducting their congresses and or primaries."

In his remarks, the State Commissioner of Police Alhaji Ibrahim Maishanu observed the negative and dangerous implications of the abrogation of Police Order Act by the court.

He clarified that the Order stipulates that political parties should seek police permit before staging political rallies, adding that "this is incapacitating the police in the control of the activities and possible excesses of political parties."

The Police Commissioner listed INEC, security agencies, the courts and politicians as stakeholders in electoral process, stating: "If all sectors do their jobs as expected, there would be credible elections in the country."

Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ekiti State, Chief Jide Awe, recalled the extreme lawlessness that ruled the state during the 2007 election, adding that "residents of the state were provoked by some security agents who allegedly cheated the people of the state."

He, however, promised: "Any officer that follows the rule of law is our friend, if you comport yourselves sir, we too will comport ourselves".

The Public Relations Officer of the PDP in the state, Mr. Kola Oluwawole, said INEC should reject any political party which failed to comply with the rules and regulations guiding conduct of elections.